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papastavrou e., efstathiou g., tsangari h., suhonen r., leino-kilpi h., patiraki e., karlou c., balogh z., palese a., tomietto m., jarosova d. & merkouris a. (2011) A cross-cultural study of the concept of caring through behaviours: patients' and nurses' perspectives in six different EU countries. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(5), 1026-1037. Abstract Aim. This paper is a report of an international study of patients' and nurses' perceptions of nurse caring behaviours. Background. Current economic constraints on healthcare systems, demand to increase the quality of care and the incorporation of the consumers' perspective into care, have created a need to develop a clear understanding of nursing behaviours which convey caring. Patients in different areas of the world report different expectations of nurses' caring actions when compared to nurses' views. Method. A descriptive comparative survey design was used to analyse a sample of surgical patients ( n = 1659) and their nurses ( n = 1195) in 88 wards of 34 hospitals in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Hungary and Italy. Data were collected in autumn 2009 using the Caring Behaviours Inventory-24. Nurses' and patients' responses were compared using both inferential and descriptive statistics. Results. Independent samples t-tests showed important differences between nurses' and patients' views. Although both groups perceived knowledge and skill as being the most important sub-scale, the nurses' responses were higher compared to patients ( P < 0·05) with important differences in the 'assurance of human presence' ( P < 0·001) and the 'respectful deference to others' ( P < 0·001) sub-scales. Cross-country comparisons showed important differences between the nurses' ( F = 24·199, P < 0·001) and patients' views on caring ( F = 26·945, P < 0·001). Conclusions. Important differences were observed between patient-nurse perceptions in the participating countries. The results form a foundation for future research into the development of a common international perspective about caring behaviours between patients and their nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To compare students' and families' nursing education expenditures across Europe. Background Nursing education costs are affected by investments in public education. The remaining costs fall on the shoulders of students and their families. While remaining somewhat understudied, public and student expenditure for nursing education is becoming critical in the current crisis context. Comparative studies on education costs are inevitably affected by a currency bias. Therefore, a standard measure named the Purchasing Power Standard, which has received no attention in nursing research, has been introduced. Design A mixed-method study incorporating qualitative and quantitative study designs was undertaken in 2011-2012. Methods Five nursing faculties located in the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia were included in the study. A questionnaire evaluating students' expenditures was developed in five languages and validated. Six hundred and twenty-five full-time students were recruited. Results A Slovakian student wishing to pursue a nursing career is required to commit an amount of money per year that corresponds to 15% of the average annual income of a Slovakian citizen. Lower percentages were required by students in Greece (10%), Italy (11%) and Slovenia (12%), while Czech students bore the lowest costs (5%). Conclusion None of the countries involved was supporting nursing students through either direct or indirect financial incentives. Students in some countries were also required to buy and maintain uniforms. There is a need to develop supportive policies, especially in those countries where nursing programmes are expensive and may not be accessible to all talented and motivated students due to limited public support in education and the current economic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]